113 HCON 30 IH: Recognizing the 65th anniversary of the independence of the State of Israel.U.S. House of Representatives2013-04-10text/xmlENPursuant to Title 17 Section 105 of the United States Code, this file is not subject to copyright protection and is in the public domain.IV113th CONGRESS1st SessionH. CON. RES. 30IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVESApril 10, 2013Mr. Radel (for
himself, Ms. Meng,
Mr. King of New York, and
Mr. Schneider) submitted the following
concurrent resolution; which was referred to the
Committee on Foreign
AffairsCONCURRENT RESOLUTIONRecognizing the 65th anniversary of the
independence of the State of Israel.Whereas, on May 14, 1948, the State of Israel declared its
independence;Whereas the United States was one of the first nations to
recognize Israel, only 11 minutes after its creation;Whereas Israel has provided the opportunity for Jews from
all over the world to reestablish their ancient homeland;Whereas Israel is home to many religious sites sacred to
Judaism, Christianity, and Islam;Whereas Israel provided a refuge to Jews who survived the
unprecedented horrors of the Holocaust;Whereas the people of Israel have established a
pluralistic democracy which includes the freedoms cherished by the people of
the United States, including freedom of speech, freedom of religion, freedom of
association, freedom of the press, and government by the consent of the
governed;Whereas Israel continues to serve as a shining model of
democratic values by regularly holding free and fair elections, promoting the
free exchange of ideas, and vigorously exercising in its Parliament, the
Knesset, a democratic government that is fully representative of its
citizens;Whereas Israel has bravely defended itself from terrorist
and military attacks repeatedly since independence;Whereas the rocket attacks that have targeted Israel in
recent years have caused casualties and have destroyed homes, schools,
buildings, roads, power lines, and other significant infrastructure;Whereas Israel has signed landmark peace treaties and
successfully established peaceful bilateral relations with neighboring Egypt
and Jordan;Whereas it is imperative for all countries in the Middle
East, and for United States interests in the Middle East, that these peace
treaties continue to be recognized and upheld by all involved parties;Whereas despite the violence perpetrated against innocent
Israelis over the last several years at the hands of terrorists, the people of
Israel continue to seek peace with their Palestinian neighbors;Whereas Iran, which rejects Israel's right to exist as a
nation, is a continued threat to both Israel’s and the United States safety and
security, both through its support of terrorist groups like Hamas and Hezbollah
and through its ongoing efforts to acquire nuclear weapons;Whereas the United States is committed to ensuring that
Israel maintains its qualitative military edge;Whereas the United States and Israel enjoy a strategic
partnership based on shared democratic values, friendship, respect, and
justice;Whereas the people of the United States share an affinity
with the people of Israel and view Israel as a strong and trusted ally;Whereas Israel has turned barren desert into a thriving
country that ranks among the world’s leaders in economics, technology, health
care, energy, and humanitarianism;Whereas Israel has made significant global contributions
in the fields of science, medicine, and technology; andWhereas Israel's Independence Day on the Jewish calendar
coincides this year with April 16, 2013: Now, therefore, be itThat Congress—(1)recognizes the independence of the State of
Israel as a significant event in providing refuge and a national homeland for
the Jewish people and in establishing a democracy in the Middle East;(2)commends the
bipartisan commitment of successive United States administrations and United
States Congresses since 1948 to stand by Israel and work for its security and
well-being;(3)asserts its
commitment to continue to stand with Israel during times of uncertainty;(4)expresses support
for Israel's right to exist as a democratic, Jewish State, defend itself, and
protect the lives and safety of the Israeli people;(5)congratulates the
United States and Israel for the strengthening of bilateral relations during
the past decade in the fields of defense, diplomacy, and homeland security, and
encourages both nations to continue their cooperation in resolving future
mutual challenges;(6)reaffirms its
unequivocal, enduring, and bipartisan support for the alliance and friendship
between the United States and Israel; and(7)extends warm
congratulations and best wishes to the people of Israel as they celebrate the
65th anniversary of Israel's independence.